By: Roxie Graham-Marski Posted at: 09/28/2012 10:34 AM SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The U.S. Attorney of South Dakota has charged nine people who own and operate logging companies and a check cashing business in the Black Hills with employing undocumented workers in a bid to defraud the government.

The indictment against the nine individuals was unsealed Thursday. In it, federal prosecutors accuse the nine people of defrauding the federal government by bidding on U.S. Forest Service contracts with undocumented workers who earned less than fair wages.

The federal government says the nine individuals shared workers among several different logging companies and used a check cashing business to issue one check for several of the workers.

The defendants own or work at Munoz Logging and Construction, Black Hills Thinning, Escalante Logging, SM Logging and Benja's Mexican Store.